Helping a stranger change a flat tire results in a summer job at a racetrack for Charley (Charlie Plummer) in this well made but seriously downbeat tale of a teenager who learns the hard way that quarter horses and housepets don’t mix. (And those looking to pursue a career at the track had best turn a blind eye to doping.) The drama plays out slowly, but never boringly. The supporting cast is a literal who’s who of indie notables — Steve Buscemi, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Zahn — but with his presence being felt on screen for 95% of the time, it’s young Plummer who steals the show with a pair of eyes capable of doing most of the heavy lifting. (The kid’s expressive face is a storyteller’s best friend.) Without giving anything away, a CG effect arrives out of nowhere at around the halfway point. It took a good ten minutes to get my jaw back into place. Directed by Andrew Haigh (45 Years). (2018) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.